Connection fittings for a transportable shelter

ABSTRACT

An exemplary connection fitting for a frame for a transportable shelter includes a female connection fitting configured to be attached to a first interconnecting member of the frame, and a male connection fitting configured to be attached to a second interconnecting member of the frame. The female connection fitting includes a base and a channel extending through the base, and the male connection fitting includes a base and an extension extending from the base. When the female connection fitting is attached to the first interconnecting member and the male connection fitting is attached to the second interconnecting member, the extension of the male connection fitting is inserted into the channel of the female connection fitting to connect the first interconnecting member to the second interconnecting member.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to connection fittings for atransportable shelter and methods for using connecting connectionfittings for a transportable shelter.

BACKGROUND

Transportable shelters (e.g., a tent) are used in various situations.For example, a person may use a tent to go camping. In another example,military personnel often use transportable shelters for training or whenstationed in a foreign country.

Transportable shelters often include various frame members that areconfigured to be connected together on site to create a frame for thetransportable shelter. The frame members may be metal beams or tubes,and the frame members often include connection fittings that areconfigured to attach to the connection fittings of other frame members.

Most transportable shelters utilize an insert-connection system in whichends of frame members that have a smaller diameter (e.g., swage ends)are slid into the receiving end of another frame member. The connectionsin an insert-connection system are most commonly secured using a pinningsystem, which is comprised of a series of holes drilled into the framemembers. The holes on the small diameter end of a frame member alignwith the holes of a receiving end of another frame member, such that afastener can be placed into the holes of both the small diameter end andthe receiving end of the frame member to connect the frame members toeach other and prevent the small diameter end of a frame member fromsliding out of a receiving end of another frame member. Transportableshelters utilizing an insert-connection system and a pinning system areoften made from metals, requiring extrusions that have a swaged end orend connection to create the insert. In addition, the holes for thepinning system often requires drilling during fabrication of the framemembers.

SUMMARY

An exemplary connection fitting for a frame of a transportable shelterincludes a female connection fitting configured to be attached to afirst interconnecting member of the frame, and a male connection fittingconfigured to be attached to a second interconnecting member of theframe. The female connection fitting includes a base and a channelextending through the base, and the male connection fitting includes abase and an extension extending from the base. When the femaleconnection fitting is attached to the first interconnecting member andthe male connection fitting is attached to the second interconnectingmember, the extension of the male connection fitting is inserted intothe channel of the female connection fitting to connect the firstinterconnecting member to the second interconnecting member.

An exemplary frame for a transportable shelter includes a first basemember, a second base member, and a plurality of structural members.Each of the structural members includes a first end that is connectableto the first base member and a second end that is connectable to thesecond base member. In addition, each of the structural members includesat least two interconnecting members that extend between the first endand the second end of the structural member, in which the firstinterconnectable member is connectable to the second interconnectingmember by a connection fitting. The connection fitting includes a femaleconnection fitting and a male connection fitting. The female connectionfitting is attached to the first interconnecting member and has a baseand a channel extending through the base. The male connection fitting isattached to the second interconnecting member and has a base and anextension extending from the base. The extension of the male connectionfitting is inserted into the channel of the female connection fitting toconnect the first interconnecting member to the second interconnectingmember.

Another exemplary embodiment of a connection fitting for a frame of atransportable shelter includes a crown connection fitting and a femaleconnection fitting. The crown connection fitting has a base and aplurality of extensions extending from the base. The female connectionfitting is configured to be attached to a beam member of the frame andhas a base and a channel extending through the base. When the beammember is attached to the female connection fitting, the channel of thefemale connection fitting is placed over an extension of the crownconnection fitting to connect the beam member to the crown connectionfitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a frame for atransportable shelter;

FIG. 2 illustrates a bay for the frame shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a female connectionfitting;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the female connection fitting ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the female connection fitting ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a male connectionfitting;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the male connection fitting of FIG.6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of aconnection between a first interconnecting member having a maleconnection fitting and a second interconnecting member having a femaleconnection fitting;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the connection between the first interconnectingmember and the second interconnecting member of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of aninterconnecting member being attached to a connection fitting;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a connection between an exemplary embodiment ofa crown fitting having male connection points and an exemplaryembodiment of a female connection fitting; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the connection between the crownfitting and female connection fitting of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Transportable shelters can be designed with various interconnectablemembers that are connected to create a frame of the shelter. Acommonality of attachment methods is used to ease the difficulty of theconnecting the interconnectable members during installation of theframe. Factors such as the speed and ease-of-use related to theconnections greatly lengthen or reduce the overall installation timerequired due to the large amount of points that need to be connected.There exists a need for a standard structural support connection that iseasy to use and fast, and that is also a secure connection that canendure the stresses associated with a long-term installation.

The connection fitting of the present application utilizes a dovetaildesign. The connection fitting has several advantages over currentconnections between members of a frame for a transportable shelter. Forexample, the insert-connection systems used by most transportableshelters allows for a small amount of movement or “give” in eachconnection between the frame members, which allows a smaller diameterend of a frame member to be slid into the receiving end of another framemember. As several connections between frame members exist for a frameof a transportable shelter, this amount of movement or “give” increasesexponentially with each additional connection that is made for atransportable shelter. This movement in the connections reduces thestability of the frame for the transportable shelter. In contrast, thedovetail style fitting allows for a stable connection point, which, ofits own volition, creates a connection that is less likely to disconnecton its own over time. This stable connection is partly due to thereduction of the angles of movement. That is, the stable connection ispartly due to limiting the movement between the extension of a maleconnection fitting and the channel of female connection fitting. Inaddition, in various embodiments, the dovetail design can be used withfasteners (e.g., screws, pins, bolts, etc.), in which the bulk of thestresses created at the joint to be handled by the dovetail connection,rather than the fasteners. By using the dovetail connection, there willbe negligible movement or “give” between frame members, which causesless stress to be applied to the fasteners.

Current transportable shelters utilizing insert-connection systems aremade from metals and require extrusions that have a swaged end or endconnection to create the insert for the frame members. The extrudedmembers are difficult to transport and store when made to lengths formedium to large size structures. In addition, each end of the extrudedframe members also require drilling for the pinning system holes, whichrequires the frame members to be manipulated multiple times duringfabrication. In contrast, the connection fitting of the presentapplication can be created using Computer Numerical Control (“CNC”)manufacturing, forging, casting, 3D printing, additive manufacturing.The disclosed connection fitting can also be made from extruded metals(e.g., aluminum, steel, composites, etc.) The connection fitting can bemanufactured to a length where a length of the connection fittingcorresponds to the height of the frame member to which the connectionfitting will be attached. Once at length, the connection fitting can bemachined/drilled in accordance with the desired dimensions for anychannels, extensions, protrusions, apertures, or openings of theconnection fitting. The above-mentioned manufacturing method makes iteasy to manufacture the connection fittings to the specificationsdesired by a user.

Current transportable shelters utilizing insert-connection systems areless than ideal when a frame that has been designed has any sort ofcurvature to the frame members (e.g., Quonset huts, hoop structures,etc.) For such structures, the small diameter ends of the frame memberstend not to have the same curvature as the receiving ends of the framemembers, which makes it difficult to connect the frame members, andprovides more stress to the pins supporting the connections between theframe members. As mentioned above, the manufacturing of the connectionfitting disclosed in the present application makes it easy tomanufacture the connection fittings to the specifications desired by auser, which makes it more advantageous than frame members havingcurvatures that do not match each other. In addition, frame membersutilizing the disclosed connection fitting can be connected quickly andeasily by inserting an extension of a male connection fitting into achannel of a female connection fitting and securing the extension in thechannel with a fastener. The male and female connection fittings areprevented from over-extending or over-sliding by the connection of theconnection fittings to the frame member. For example, when the framemember is an I-beam, the connection fittings are prevented fromover-extending or over-sliding by the top flange of the beam).

In addition, for transportable shelters utilizing insert-connectionsystems, the entire frame is secured through the use of pins only, whichmeans the breakage of a pin or a removal of a pin can result in theimminent failure of the frame because there is no additional forcekeeping the frame members together (without the installation of ashelter fabric or additional complete anchoring systems). As mentionedabove, the dovetail design of the disclosed connection fitting allowsthe bulk of the stresses created at the joint to be handled by thedovetail connection, rather than the fasteners. By using the dovetailconnection, there will be negligible movement or “give” between framemembers, which causes less stress to be applied to the fasteners andless chance of failure of the frame due to failure of the fastener.

Prior to discussing the various embodiments, a review of the definitionsof some exemplary terms used throughout the disclosure is appropriate.Both singular and plural forms of all terms fall within each meaning.

As described herein, when a frame for a transportable shelter isdescribed as having “structural members,” “base members,”“interconnecting members,” and “purlins,” such terms are used todescribe various members for the frame. Such terms, however, shall notbe limited to the specific embodiments of the structures being describedas “structural members,” “base members,” “interconnecting members,” or“purlins.” The terms “structural members,” “base members,”interconnecting members,” “purlins,” and any other similar term shalltake any suitable meaning for describing a member, component, portion,or element of a frame for a transportable shelter.

As described herein, when one or more members are described as beingconnected, joined, affixed, coupled, attached, or otherwiseinterconnected, such interconnection may be direct as between themembers or may be indirect such as through the use of one or moreintermediary members. Also, as described herein, reference to a“member,” “component,” “element,” or “portion” shall not be limited to asingle structural member, component, purlin or portion, but can includean assembly of components, members, purlins, or portion.

In the embodiments discussed herein, the connection fittings of thepresent application are described for use with a frame for atransportable shelter. However, the connection fittings of the presentapplication can be used in a variety of different applications. Thepresent application provides multiple embodiments of connection fittingsand frames for transportable shelters. Any feature or combination offeatures from each of the embodiments can be used with features orcombinations of features of other embodiments.

The general inventive concepts of the present application will now bedescribed by referencing the following exemplary embodiments. Thedescription with reference to the following exemplary embodiments is notintended to limit the scope of the claims in any way, and the terms usedin the claims have their full ordinary meaning.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a frame 100 for atransportable shelter includes a first base member 102, a second basemember 104, a plurality of structural members 106 a-g, and a pluralityof purlins 108. A first end 205 (FIG. 2) of each structural member 106a-g is connected to the first base member 102, and a second end 207(FIG. 2) of each structural member 106 a-g is connected to the secondbase member 104. The purlins 108 attach a structural member 106 a-g toan adjacent structural member and provide support to maintain the frame100 in an upright position. The frame 100 may take any suitable form,such as, for example, any form described in U.S. application Ser. No.15/489,047 titled FRAME FOR A TRANSPORTABLE SHELTER, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The frame 100 includes a plurality of bays 110 a-f, in which each bay110 includes an adjacent pair of the structural members 106 a-g that areattached by the first base member 102, the second base member 104, and aplurality of purlins 108. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the frame100 includes six bays 110 a-f. However, the frame 100 may be configuredto include any suitable number of bays.

Referring to FIG. 2, the bay 110 a for the frame 100 of FIG. 1 is shown.While the following description refers to bay 110 a, it should beunderstood that the description also applies to bays 110 b-f. In theillustrated embodiment, the bay 110 a includes the structural member 106a and the structural member 106 b, in which the structural members 106a,b are connected by the first base member 102, the second base member104, and five purlins 108. In alternative embodiments, the structuralmember 106 a and the structural member 106 b may be connected by anysuitable number of purlins 108 that maintains the bay 110 in an uprightposition, such as, for example, three purlins, four purlins, fivepurlins, six purlins, etc.

Still referring to FIG. 2, each structural member 106 a,b includes sixinterconnecting members 212 a-f. The interconnecting member 212 a ofeach structural member connects to the first base member 102 atconnection point A and the adjacent interconnecting member 212 b atconnection point B. The interconnecting member 212 c connects toadjacent interconnecting member 212 b at connection point C and toanother adjacent interconnecting member 212 d at connection point D. Theinterconnecting member 212 e connects to adjacent interconnecting member212 d at connection point E and to another adjacent interconnectingmember 212 f at connection point F. The interconnecting member 212 fconnects to the second base member 104 at connection point G. Theinterconnecting members 212 a, 212 e may connect to a corresponding basemember 102, 104 by any suitable means, such as, for example, any meansdescribed in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/489,047. The purlins 108connect the structural member 106 a to the structural member 106 b. Inthe illustrated embodiment, a purlin 108 is connecting the structuralmembers 106 a,b at each of the connection points B-F. In alternativeembodiments, the connections between the purlins 108 and the structuralmembers 106 a-g are located at connection points that are different thanthe connection points B-F between the interconnecting members 212 a-f.The interconnecting members 212 a-f may take any suitable form, such as,for example, any form described in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/489,047or the present application.

Each of the interconnecting members 212 a-f can connect to the basemembers 102, 104 or another interconnecting member using a dovetailconnection fitting 800 (FIG. 8). An exemplary embodiment of a dovetailconnection fitting 800 includes a female connection fitting 300 (FIGS.3-5) and a male connection fitting 600 (FIGS. 6-7). The femaleconnection fitting 300 of one interconnecting member 212 a-f isconfigured to attach to the male connection fitting 600 of anotherinterconnecting member or a base member 102, 104 such that theconnection between the interconnecting member and the otherinterconnecting member or the base member is secure and can endure thestresses associated with a long-term installation of a frame for atransportable shelter. In certain embodiments, the dovetail connectionfitting 800 can be used as an alternative to the hinge assembliesdescribed in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/489,047.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, an exemplary embodiment of a female connectionfitting 300 includes a base 302, one or more channels 304 a-c extendingthrough the base, a protrusion 306 extending from the base, andapertures 308 extending through the female connection fitting forattaching the female connection fitting to an interconnecting member 212a-f or a base member 102, 104. Referring to FIG. 3, the femaleconnection fitting has three channels 304 a-c configured to receive anextension 614 (FIG. 6) of the male connection fitting 600. The femaleconnection fitting 300 can, however, include any suitable number ofchannels, such as, for example, one channel, two channels, threechannels, four channels, five channels, six channels, or more than 6channels. In the illustrated embodiment, the channels 304 a-c include aninlet 310 for receiving an extension 614 of the male connection fitting600, in which the inlet has a width W. In addition, a portion of thechannel 304 includes a width X. In various embodiments, the width X islarger than the width W.

In the illustrated embodiment, a first channel 304 a of the femaleconnection fitting 300 is attached to an interconnecting member 212 a-f(FIGS. 1 and 2) that is configured to receive to a male connectionfitting 600 (FIG. 6) that is attached to another interconnecting member212 a-f (FIGS. 1 and 2) or a base member 102, 104 (FIGS. 1 and 2) toattach the interconnecting member to the other interconnecting member orthe base member. In addition, the female connection fitting 300 includesa second channel 304 b and a third channel 304 c, which are configuredto receive a male connection fitting 600 that is attached to a purlin108. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, purlins 108 can attachstructural members 106 a-g at the connection points (e.g., connectionpoints B, C, D, E, F) between the interconnecting members 212 a-f, andthe female connection fitting 300 includes channels 304 b-c forreceiving male connection fittings of the purlins for connecting thepurlins 108 to the structural members 106 a-g. In certain embodiments,the width W of the openings 310 for each of the channels 304 a-c areidentical, and the width X for each of the channels 304 a-c areidentical. In other embodiments, the width W and the width X for thefirst channel 304 a is different than the width W and the width X for atleast one of the second channel 304 b and the third channel 304 c.

The embodiment of the female connection fitting 300 shown in FIGS. 3-5is configured to attach to an interconnecting member 212 a-f or a basemember 102, 104 that takes the form of an I-beam (i.e., a beam having aweb and two opposing flanges attached to the web). The apertures 308allow for the insertion of a fastening member (e.g., screws, bolts,etc.) for connecting the female connection fitting 300 to the flanges ofan I-beam. The protrusion 306 houses an aperture 308 and is the contactpoint for a web of an I-beam when the female connection fitting 300 isattached to the I-beam. In alternative embodiments, the interconnectingmembers 212 a-f and the base members 102, 104 may not take the form ofan I-beam. For example, the interconnecting members 212 a-f and the basemembers 102, 104 may take any other suitable form, such as, for example,any form described in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/489,047. A personhaving ordinary skill in the art would recognize the that the femaleconnection fitting 300 can include various means and methods forconnecting the female connection fitting 300 to an interconnectingmember 212 a-f or a base member 102, 104 having any of these suitableforms. For example, the female connection 300 fitting can attach to aninterconnecting member 212 a-f or a base member 102, 104 using fastenersand apertures, adhesive, welding, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in certain embodiments, the femaleconnection fitting 300 includes openings 418 that intersect with theapertures 308, such that a fastener can be used to maintain anotherfastener in a desired position within the apertures 308. For example,screws or bolts can be inserted into the apertures 308 of the femaleconnection fitting 300 to attach the female connection fitting to aninterconnecting member 212 a-f or a base member 102, 104. In thissituation, another fastener (e.g., a barrel fastener, a nut, etc.) isdisposed within the openings 418 to maintain the screw or bolt withinthe apertures 308.

Still referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the female connection fitting 300 canalso include openings 420 that extend through the channels 304 a-c. Theopenings 420 are configured to align with openings 722 (FIG. 7) of amale connection fitting 600 (FIG. 6) when the male connection fitting isattached to the female connection fitting 300. The openings 420 are alsoconfigured to receive a fastener (e.g., screw, bolt, etc.) to maintainthe connection between the female connection fitting 300 and the maleconnection fitting 600.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, an exemplary embodiment of a male connectionfitting 600 includes a base 602, one or more extensions 614 extendingfrom the base, a protrusion 624 extending from the base, and apertures626 extending through the male connection fitting for attaching the maleconnection fitting to an interconnecting member 212 a-f or a base member102, 104. Referring to FIG. 6, the male connection fitting has oneextension 614 configured to be inserted into a channel 304 a-c (FIGS.3-5) of the female connection fitting 300. The male connection fitting600 can, however, include any suitable number of extensions 614, suchas, for example, one extension, two extensions, three extensions, fourextensions, five extensions, six extensions, or more than 6 extensions.For example, in some embodiments, the male connection fitting 600 mayinclude additional extensions 614 that are configured to attach tofemale connection members attached to a purlin 108 (FIGS. 1 and 2) suchthat the purlin can be connected to the structural members 106 a-g(FIGS. 1 and 2).

In the illustrated embodiment, the extension 614 has a width H at aconnection 630 between the extension and the base 602, and the width ofthe extension increases to a maximum width Z that is larger than thewidth H. In certain embodiments, the portion of the extension having awidth H is configured to align with the portion of a channel 304 a-c(FIG. 3) of a female connection member 300 (FIG. 3) having a width Wsuch that the extension can be inserted into the channel of the femaleconnection member. In addition, in certain embodiments, the portion ofthe extension 614 having a width Z is configured to align with a portionof the channel 304 a-c having a width X such that the extension can beinserted into the channel.

The embodiment of the male connection fitting 600 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7is configured to attach to an interconnecting member 212 a-f (FIGS. 1and 2) or a base member 102, 104 (FIGS. 1 and 2) that takes the form ofan I-beam (i.e., a beam having a web and two opposing flanges attachedto the web). The apertures 626 allow for the insertion of a fasteningmember (e.g., screws, bolts, etc.) for connecting the male connectionfitting 600 to the flanges of an I-beam. The protrusion 624 houses anaperture 626 and is the contact point for a web of an I-beam when themale connection fitting 600 is attached to the I-beam. In alternativeembodiments, the interconnecting members 212 a-f and the base members102, 104 may not take the form of an I-beam. For example, theinterconnecting members 212 a-f and the base members 102, 104 may takeany other suitable form, such as, for example, any form described inU.S. application Ser. No. 15/489,047. A person having ordinary skill inthe art would recognize the that the male connection fitting 600 caninclude various means and methods for connecting the male connectionfitting 600 to an interconnecting member 212 a-f or a base member 102,104 having any of these suitable forms. For example, the male connectionfitting 600 can attach to an interconnecting member 212 a-f or a basemember 102, 104 using fasteners and apertures, adhesive, welding, etc.

Referring to FIG. 7, in certain embodiments, the male connection fitting600 includes openings 732 that intersect with the apertures 626, suchthat a fastener can be used to maintain another fastener in a desiredposition within the apertures 626. For example, screws or bolts can beinserted into the apertures 626 of the male connection fitting 600 toattach the male connection fitting to an interconnecting member 212 a-for a base member 102, 104. In this situation, another fastener (e.g., abarrel fastener, a nut, etc.) is disposed within the openings 732 tomaintain the screw or bolt within the apertures 626.

Still referring to FIG. 7, the male connection fitting 600 can alsoinclude openings 722 that extend through the extension 614. The openings722 are configured to align with openings 420 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of afemale connection fitting 300 (FIG. 3) when the female connectionfitting is attached to the male connection fitting 600. The openings 722are also configured to receive a fastener (e.g., screw, bolt, etc.) tomaintain the connection between the female connection fitting 300 andthe male connection fitting 600.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, an exemplary embodiment of a dovetailconnection fitting 800 that includes a female connection fitting 300(FIGS. 3-5) and a male connection fitting 600 (FIGS. 6 and 7). In theillustrated embodiment, the female connection fitting 300 is attached toan interconnecting member 801, and the male connection fitting 600 isattached to a second interconnecting member 803. The first and secondinterconnecting members 801, 803 are I-beams. For illustrative purposesof the connection between the dovetail connection fitting 800 and theinterconnecting members 801, 803, only a single flange 809, 811 of eachinterconnecting member is shown, and the opposing flange and the web arenot shown. The first and second interconnecting members 801, 803 can,however, take any suitable form, such as, for example, any formdescribed in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/489,047 or the presentapplication. While FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a connection between twointerconnecting members 801, 803, it should be understood that thedovetail connection fitting 800 can also be used to connect aninterconnecting member to a base member. In addition, it should beunderstood that the dovetail connection fitting 800 can be used in anyother suitable situation that requires connecting two members of astructure together.

The female connection fitting 300 is attached to a flange 809 of thefirst interconnecting member 801 by aligning the apertures 308 of thefemale connection fitting (as shown in FIG. 8) with openings 908 of thefirst interconnecting member 801 (as shown in FIG. 9) and inserting afastener (e.g., a screw, a bolt, etc.) through the apertures 308 andopenings 908. In certain embodiments, the attachment between the femaleconnection fitting 300 and the first interconnecting member 801 ismaintained by inserting a fastener (e.g., a barrel fastener, a nut,etc.) into openings 418 (FIGS. 4 and 5), which intersect the apertures308 and maintain a fastener (e.g., a screw, a bolt, etc.) within theapertures 308 for attaching the female connection fitting to the firstinterconnecting member. In alternative embodiments, the femaleconnection fitting 300 can be attached to the first interconnectingmember 801 by adhesive, welding, etc.

The male connection fitting 600 is attached to a flange 811 of thesecond interconnecting member 803 by aligning the apertures 626 of themale connection fitting (as shown in FIG. 8) with openings 926 of thesecond interconnecting member 803 (as shown in FIG. 9) and inserting afastener (e.g., a screw, a bolt, etc.) through the apertures 626 andopenings 926. In certain embodiments, the attachment between the maleconnection fitting 300 and the second interconnecting member 803 ismaintained by inserting a fastener (e.g., a barrel fastener, a nut,etc.) into openings 732 (FIG. 7), which intersect the apertures 626 andmaintain a fastener (e.g., a screw, a bolt, etc.) within the apertures626 for attaching the male connection fitting to the secondinterconnecting member. In alternative embodiments, the male connectionfitting 600 can be attached to the second interconnecting member 803 byadhesive, welding, etc.

Referring to FIG. 8, the first interconnecting member 801 is attached tothe second interconnecting member 803 by inserting the extension 614 ofthe male connection fitting 600 into the channel 304 a of the femaleconnection fitting 300. The extension 614 is inserted into an opening440 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the channel 304 a in a direction Y (as shown inFIG. 5). In certain embodiments, the female connection fitting 300 andthe male connection fitting 600 are configured to have only a singledirection of insertion. That is, the extension 614 of the maleconnection fitting 600 is configured to only be inserted into a singleside of the channel 304 a, and is prevented from being inserted into theother side of the channel 304 a. In alternative embodiments, theextension 614 of the male connection fitting 600 can be inserted intoeither side of the channel 304 a.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the extension 614 of the male connectionfitting 600 is disposed in the channel 304 a of the female connectionfitting 300, the female connection fitting 300 and the male connectionfitting 600 are prevented from moving laterally in a direction D. Theprevention of lateral movement in the direction D is caused by the shapeof the channels 304 a-c of the female connection fitting 300 and theshape of the extension 614 of the male connection fitting 614. That is,referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the width Z of the extension 614 of the maleconnection fitting 600 is larger than the width W of the opening 310 ofthe channel 304 a, which prevents the extension 614 from being removedthrough the inlet 310 of the channel 304 a. The prevention of removingthe extension 614 of the male connection fitting 600 through the inlet310 of the channel 304 a of the female connection fitting 300 preventsthe connection fitting from moving laterally in the direction D.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, in certain embodiments, the femaleconnection fitting 300 includes channels 304 b-c what extend past thesides 805, 807 of the first interconnecting member 801. In certainembodiments, these channels 304 b-c are configured to attach purlins 108(FIGS. 1 and 2) having male connection fittings 600 to structuralmembers 106 a-g (FIGS. 1 and 2) for the frame 100 (FIG. 1) of atransportable shelter. The channel 304 b extends past a first side 805of the interconnecting member 801 and is configured to attach a purlin108 to an adjacent structural member 106 a-g, and the channel 304 cextends past a second side 807 of the first interconnecting member 801and is configured to attach a purlin 108 to another adjacent structuralmember 106 a-g. In an alternative embodiment, the male connectionfitting 600 includes additional extensions (not shown) that extend pastthe sides 805, 807 of the second interconnection member 803 forattaching purlins 108 having female connection fittings 300 tostructural members 106 a-g. While the dovetail connection fitting 800 isdescribed with reference to interconnecting members for a frame 100(FIG. 1) of a transportable shelter, it should be understood that thedovetail connection fitting 800 can be used in any other suitablesituation that requires connecting two members of a structure together.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a male connection fitting600 attached to an interconnecting member 901. The interconnectingmember 901 is an I-beam. For illustrative purposes of the connectionbetween the male connection fitting 600 and the interconnecting member901, only a single flange 903 of the interconnecting member is shown,and the opposing flange and the web are not shown. The interconnectingmember 901 can, however, take any suitable form, such as, for example,any form described in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/489,047 or thepresent application. The male connection fitting 600 can take anysuitable form, such as, for example, any form described in the presentapplication. While FIG. 10 illustrates a male connection fitting 600attached to the interconnecting member 901, it should be understood thatthe same features can be used to connect a female connection fitting 300(FIGS. 3-5) to interconnecting member 901.

Still referring to FIG. 10, the male connection fitting 600 includesopenings 732 for connecting the male connection fitting 600 to theflange 903 of the interconnecting member 901. The male connectionfitting 600 includes apertures 626 (FIGS. 6 and 7) that are aligned withopenings 1026 (similar to openings 926 of the interconnecting member 803in FIG. 9) of the flange 903. A fastener 1002 (e.g., a screw, a bolt,etc.) is placed through an opening of the flange 903 and through anaperture 626 of the male connection fitting 600 to attach the maleconnection fitting to the flange of the interconnecting member 901. Themale connection fitting 600 also includes openings 732 that intersectwith the apertures 626 such that, when a fastener 1002 is placed throughan aperture 626, a barrel fastener 1000 can be placed into theintersecting opening 732 to engage and secure the fastener 1002 in adesired position. The barrel fastener 1000 can take any suitable form,such as, for example, any form described in U.S. application Ser. No.15/489,047. In alternative embodiments, any other fastener can be usedto secure the fastener 1002 within an opening 732, such as, for example,a nut or any other suitable fastener.

While the illustrated embodiments show members for a frame beingconnected to other members of the frame using a dovetail connectionfitting 800, it should be understood that some connections betweenmembers of a frame can also be made using alternative types ofconnections. For example, in some embodiments, the hinge assembliesdescribed in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/489,047 can be used to connectsome members of a frame to each other, and the dovetail connectionfitting 800 can be used to connect other members of the frame to eachother. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 2, the hinge assemblies canbe used to connect the interconnecting members 212 a-f to adjacentinterconnecting members 212 a-f at connection points B-C and E-F, and toconnect interconnecting members a,f to corresponding base members 102,104 at connection points A and G, and the dovetail connection fitting800 can be used to connect interconnecting members 212 c,d to each otherat connection point D. In alternative embodiments, any number of membersfor a frame can be connected using a hinge assembly, and any number ofmembers for a frame can be connected using a dovetail connectionfitting.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a dovetailconnection fitting 1100 that includes a crown connection fitting 1101and one or more female connection fittings 1103. The crown connectionfitting 1101 includes a base member 1102 and a plurality of extensions1114 extending from the base member 1102. The female connection fitting1103 includes a base 1122 and a channel 1124 extending through the basemember and configured to receive an extension 1114 of the crownconnection fitting, and apertures 1126 extending through the base forattaching the female connection fitting to a beam member. The dovetailconnection fitting 1100 is configured such that various femaleconnection fittings 1103 can be attached to the extensions 1114 of thecrown connection fitting 1101. In certain embodiments, each femaleconnection fitting 1103 is attached to a beam member (i.e., an I-beam),and the female connection fittings 1103 are used to attach the beammembers to the crown connection fitting 1101. The female connectionfittings 1103 can be attached to a beam member by any suitable means,such as, for example, any means provided in the present application. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the crown connection fitting 1101 includeseight extensions 1114, and a single female connection fitting 1103 isattached to one of the extensions 1114. The crown connection fitting1101 can include any suitable number of extensions 1114, such as, forexample, two or more extensions, three or more extensions, four or moreextensions, five or more extensions, six or more extensions, seven ormore extensions, eight or more extensions, 9 or more extensions, 10 ormore extensions, etc. In addition, the crown connection fitting 1101 canbe connected to as many female connection fittings 1103 as there areextensions 1114.

Referring to FIG. 11, the extensions 1114 of the crown connectionfitting 1101 have a width H at a connection 1130 between the extensionand the base 1102, and the width of the extension increases to a maximumwidth Z that is larger than the width H. The channel 1124 of each femaleconnection fitting 1103 includes an opening 1128 having a width W, andthe width of the channel increases from the opening to a width X that islarger than the width W. The female connection fitting 1103 is attachedto the crown connection fitting 1103 by placing the channel 1124 offemale connection fitting over an extension 1114 of the crown connectionfitting 1101. In certain embodiments, the channel 1124 of the femaleconnection fitting 1103 is configured to only be placed over anextension 1114 of the crown connection fitting 1101 in a singledirection. In alternative embodiments, the channel 1124 of the femaleconnection fitting 1103 can be placed over an extension 1114 of thecrown connection fitting 1101 in both directions.

Referring to FIG. 12, when the extension 1114 of the crown connectionfitting 1101 is disposed in the channel 1124 of the female connectionfitting 1103, the female connection fitting 1103 and the crownconnection fitting 1101 are prevented from moving laterally in adirection D. The prevention of lateral movement in the direction D iscaused by the shape of the channel 1124 of the female connection fitting1103 and the shape of the extension 1114 of the crown connection fitting1101. That is, referring to FIG. 11, the width Z of the extension 1114of the crown connection fitting 1101 is larger than the width W of theopening 1128 of the channel 1124, which prevents the female connectionfitting 1103 from being removed in a direction D. In certainembodiments, after the channel 1124 of the female connection fitting1103 is placed over the extension 1114 of the crown connection fitting1101, the female connection fitting 1103 is secured to the crownconnection fitting 1101 by a fastener (e.g., a screw, a bolt, etc.). Forexample, referring to FIG. 12, the female connection fitting 1103includes an opening 1132 that extends through the channel 1124, and theextension 1114 of the crown connection fitting 1101 includes an opening(not shown) that extends through the extension and is aligned with theopening 1132 of the female connection fitting when the extension isdisposed in the channel 1124. When the opening 1132 of the femaleconnection fitting and the opening of the extension 1114 of the crownconnection fitting are aligned, a fastener is placed through both theopening 1132 of the female connection fitting and the opening of theextension to secure the female connection fitting to the crownconnection fitting.

Still referring to FIG. 12, in certain embodiments, the femaleconnection fitting 1103 is configured to be attached to the crownconnection fitting 1101 at any desired connection angle a. That is, incertain circumstances, the frame of a transportable shelter can includebeam members being disposed at certain angles compared to other beammembers of the frame, and, in these circumstances, the connectionfitting 1100 can be used to connect the beam members at the desiredangles. In the illustrated embodiment, an axis X is shown across a topsurface 1241 of the crown connection fitting 1101, and another axis B isshown across a top surface 1243 of the base 1122 of the femaleconnection fitting 1103. The connection between the crown connectionfitting 1101 and the female connection fitting 1103 can be configuredsuch that the angle a between the axis A and the axis B can be movedbetween various angles. In certain embodiments, the crown connectionfitting 1101 is disposed at the highest point on a frame for atransportable shelter, and female connection fittings 1103 are attachedthe crown connection fitting 1101 to create a roof of the frame. Inthese embodiments, it is advantageous that the angle a can be adjustedbecause adjusting the angle a allows for an adjustment of the roof pitchfor the roof of the frame. The dovetail connection fitting 1100 can beconfigured such that a roof pitch for the roof of a frame for atransportable shelter can be between about 1:12 inch and about 8:12 inchroof pitch, such as between about 2:12 inch and about 7:12 inch roofpitch, such as between about 3:12 inch and about 6:12 inch roof pitch,such as between about 4:12 inch and about 5:12 inch roof pitch.

While the illustrated embodiment shows a crown connection fitting 1101having extensions 1114 that are connectable to a female connectionfitting 1103, it should be understood that the crown fitting couldinclude a plurality of channels that are connectable to male connectionfittings having extensions that are configured to be disposed within thechannels of the crown connection fitting.

While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventionsmay be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination inthe exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and featuresmay be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or invarious combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expresslyexcluded herein, all such combinations and sub-combinations are intendedto be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, whilevarious alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts andfeatures of the inventions—such as alternative materials, structures,configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as toform, fit and function, and so on-may be described herein, suchdescriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list ofavailable alternative embodiments, whether presently known or laterdeveloped. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of theinventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments anduses within the scope of the present inventions, even if suchembodiments are not expressly disclosed herein.

Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of theinventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement ormethod, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature isrequired or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further,exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assistin understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and rangesare not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to becritical values or ranges only if so expressly stated.

While various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identifiedherein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, suchidentification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may beinventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described hereinwithout being expressly identified as such or as part of a specificinvention, the inventions instead being set forth in the appendedclaims. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limitedto inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is theorder that the steps are presented to be construed as required ornecessary unless expressly so stated.

1. A connection fitting for a frame of a transportable shelter, theframe including a plurality of interconnecting members, in which a firstinterconnecting member of the plurality of interconnecting members isconnectable to a second interconnecting member of the plurality ofinterconnecting members, the connection fitting comprising: a femaleconnection fitting configured to be attached to the firstinterconnecting member, the female connection fitting having a base anda channel extending through the base; a male connection fittingconfigured to be attached to the second interconnecting member, the maleconnection fitting having a base and an extension extending from thebase; wherein, when the female connection fitting is attached to thefirst interconnecting member and the male connection fitting is attachedto the second interconnecting member, the extension of the maleconnection fitting is inserted into the channel of the female connectionfitting to connect the first interconnecting member to the secondinterconnecting member.
 2. The connection fitting according to claim 1,wherein the female connection fitting further comprises a second channelextending through the base.
 3. The connection fitting according to claim1, wherein the female connection fitting further comprises one or moreapertures for attaching the female connection fitting to the firstinterconnecting member, and wherein the apertures of the femaleconnection fitting are configured to align with one or more openings ofthe first interconnecting member such that the female connection fittingis configured to be attached to the first interconnecting member byplacing a fastener through an aperture of the one or more apertures andthrough an aligned opening of the one or more openings.
 4. Theconnection fitting according to claim 1, wherein the male connectionfitting further comprises one or more apertures for attaching the maleconnection fitting to the second interconnecting member, and wherein theapertures of the male connection fitting are configured to align withone or more openings of the second interconnecting member such that themale connection fitting is configured to be attached to the secondinterconnecting member by placing a fastener through an aperture of theone or more apertures and through an aligned opening of the one or moreopenings.
 5. The connection fitting according to claim 1, wherein thechannel of the female connection fitting comprises an inlet having afirst width and a wider portion having a second width, wherein thesecond width is greater than the first width.
 6. The connection fittingaccording to claim 5, wherein the extension of the male connectionfitting comprises a connection portion having a third width and a widerportion having a fourth width, wherein the fourth width is greater thanthe third width, and wherein the fourth width of the wider portion ofthe male connection fitting is greater than the first width of the inletof the female connection portion.
 7. The connection fitting according toclaim 3, wherein the female connection fitting includes one or moresecuring openings that intersect the one or more apertures of the femaleconnection fitting, wherein the securing openings are configured toreceive a securing fastener for securing the female connection fittingto the first interconnecting member.
 8. The connection fitting accordingto claim 4, wherein the male connection fitting includes one or moresecuring openings that intersect the one or more apertures of the maleconnection fitting, wherein the securing openings are configured toreceive a securing fastener for securing the male connection fitting tothe second interconnecting member.
 9. The connection fitting accordingto claim 1, wherein the female connection fitting includes one or morefirst connection openings that extend through the channel, wherein themale connection fitting includes one or more second connection openingsthat extend through the extension, and wherein the first connectionopenings of the female connection fitting are aligned with the secondconnection openings of the male connection fitting when the extension ofthe male connection fitting is disposed in the channel of the femaleconnection fitting such that a connection fastener can be placed throughthe first connection openings and second connection openings to securethe female connection fitting to the male connection fitting.
 10. Theconnection fitting according to claim 1, wherein the female connectionfitting further comprises a first protrusion that is configured toengage a web of the first interconnecting member, and wherein the maleconnection fitting further comprises a second protrusion that isconfigured to engage a web of the second interconnecting member.
 11. Aframe for a transportable shelter, the frame comprising: a first basemember; a second base member; a plurality of structural members, eachstructural member comprising: a first end that is connectable to thefirst base member; a second end that is connectable to the second basemember; and at least two interconnecting members that extend between thefirst end and the second end of the structural member, wherein the firstinterconnecting member is connectable to the second interconnectingmember by a connection fitting, the connection fitting comprising: afemale connection fitting attached to the first interconnecting member,the female connection fitting having a base and a channel extendingthrough the base; a male connection fitting attached to the secondinterconnecting member, the male connection fitting having a base and anextension extending from the base; wherein the extension of the maleconnection fitting is inserted into the channel of the female connectionfitting to connect the first interconnecting member to the secondinterconnecting member.
 12. The frame according to claim 11, furthercomprising a plurality of purlins that are configured to connect onestructural member to another structural member.
 13. The frame accordingto claim 12, wherein the female connection fitting comprises a secondchannel extending through the base of the female connection fitting,wherein a first purlin of the plurality of purlins comprises a maleconnection fitting, and wherein the male connection fitting of the firstpurlin is inserted into the second channel of the female connectionfitting to attach the first purlin to the first interconnecting member.14. The frame according to claim 13, wherein the female connectionfitting comprises a third channel extending through the base of thefemale connection fitting, where a second purlin of the plurality ofpurlins comprises a male connection fitting, and wherein the maleconnection fitting of the second purlin is inserted into the thirdchannel of the female connection fitting to attach the second purlin tothe first interconnecting member.
 15. The frame according to claim 11,wherein the female connection fitting further comprises one or moreapertures for attaching the female connection fitting to the firstinterconnecting member, and wherein the apertures of the femaleconnection fitting are configured to align with one or more openings ofthe first interconnecting member such that the female connection fittingis configured to be attached to the second interconnecting member byplacing a fastener through an aperture of the one or more apertures andthrough an aligned opening of the one or more openings.
 16. The frameaccording to claim 11, wherein the male connection fitting furthercomprises one or more apertures for attaching the male connectionfitting to the second interconnecting member, and wherein the aperturesof the male connection fitting are configured to align with one or moreopenings of the second interconnecting member such that the maleconnection fitting is configured to be attached to the secondinterconnecting member by placing a fastener through an aperture of theone or more apertures and through an aligned opening of the one or moreopenings.
 17. The frame according to claim 11, wherein the channel ofthe female connection fitting comprises an inlet having a first widthand a wider portion having a second width, wherein the second width isgreater than the first width.
 18. The frame according to claim 17,wherein the extension of the male connection fitting comprises aconnection portion having a third width and a wider portion having afourth width, wherein the fourth width is greater than the third width,and wherein the fourth width of the wider portion of the male connectionfitting is greater than the first width of the inlet of the femaleconnection fitting.
 19. The frame according to claim 15, wherein thefemale connection fitting includes one or more securing openings thatintersect the one or more apertures of the female connection fitting,wherein the securing openings are configured to receive a securingfastener for securing the female connection fitting to the firstinterconnecting member.
 20. The frame according to claim 16, wherein themale connection fitting includes one or more securing openings thatintersect the one or more apertures of the male connection fitting,wherein the securing openings are configured to receive a securingfastener for securing the male connection fitting to the secondinterconnecting member.
 21. The frame according to claim 11, wherein thefemale connection fitting includes one or more first connection openingsthat extend through the channel, wherein the male connection fittingincludes one or more second connection openings that extend through theextension, and wherein the first connection openings of the femaleconnection fitting are aligned with the second connection openings ofthe male connection fitting when the extension of the male connectionfitting is disposed in the channel of the female connection fitting suchthat a connection fastener can be placed through the first connectionopenings and second connection openings to secure the female connectionfitting to the male connection fitting.
 22. The frame according to claim11, wherein the first interconnecting member is an I-beam having a firstweb and first opposing flanges, and wherein the second interconnectingmember is an I-beam having a second web and second opposing flanges,wherein the female connection fitting further comprises a firstprotrusion that is configured to engage the first web of the firstinterconnecting member when the female connection fitting is attached tothe first interconnecting member, and wherein the male connectionfitting further comprises a second protrusion that is configured toengage the second web of the second interconnecting member when the maleconnection fitting is attached to the second interconnecting member. 23.A connection fitting for a frame of a transportable shelter, the frameincluding a plurality of beam members, the connection fittingcomprising: a crown connection fitting having a base and a plurality ofextensions extending from the base; a female connection fittingconfigured to be attached to a beam member of the frame, the femaleconnection fitting having a base and a channel extending through thebase; wherein the channel of the female connection fitting is placedover an extension of the plurality of extensions of the crown connectionfitting to connect the beam member to the crown connection fitting. 24.The connection fitting according to claim 23, wherein the femaleconnection fitting further comprises one or more apertures for attachingthe female connection fitting to the beam member, and wherein theapertures of the female connection fitting are configured to align withone or more openings in the beam member such that the female connectionfitting is configured to be attached to the beam member by placing afastener through an aperture of the one or more apertures and through analigned opening of the one or more openings.
 25. The connection fittingaccording to claim 23, wherein the channel of the female connectionfitting comprises an inlet having a first width and a wider portionhaving a second width, wherein the second width is greater than thefirst width.
 26. The connection fitting according to claim 25, whereinthe extension of the crown connection fitting comprises a connectionportion having a third width and a wider portion having a fourth width,wherein the fourth width is greater than the third width, and whereinthe fourth width of the wider portion of the crown connection fitting isgreater than the first width of the inlet of the female connectionfitting.
 27. The connection fitting according to claim 23, wherein thefemale connection fitting includes one or more first connection openingsthat extend through the channel, wherein the extension of the crownconnection fitting includes one or more second connection openings thatextend through the extension, and wherein the first connection openingsof the female connection fitting are aligned with the second connectionopenings of the extension of the crown connection fitting when theextension is disposed in the channel of the female connection fittingsuch that a connection fastener can be placed through the firstconnection openings and second connection openings to secure the femaleconnection fitting to the crown connection fitting.
 28. The connectionfitting according to claim 23, wherein an angle of a top surface of thebase of the female connection fitting relative to a top surface of thebase of the crown connection fitting when the female connection fittingis attached to the crown connection fitting is movable.